MHC Reconnaissance Survey Town Report
NORFOLK
Report Date: 1980
Reconnaissance Survey Town Reports, produced for MHC’s Statewide Reconnaissance Survey between 1979 and 1987, introduce the historical development of each of the Commonwealth’s municipalities. Each report begins with an historic overview, a description of topography, and political boundaries. For the purposes of the survey, the historic period has been subdivided into seven periods: Contact (1500–1620), Plantation (1620–1675), Colonial (1675–
1775), Federal (1775–1830), Early Industrial (1830-1870), Late Industrial (1870–1915), and
Early Modern (1915–1940/55). Each report concludes with survey observations that evaluate
the town’s existing historic properties inventory and highlight significant historic buildings, settlement patterns, and present threats to these resources. A bibliography lists key secondary resources.
Town reports are designed for use together with a series of town maps that demarcate settlement patterns, transportation corridors and industrial sites for each historic period. These maps
are in the form of color-coded, polyester overlays to the USGS topographic base map for each
town on file and available for consultation at MHC. For further information on the organization and preparation of town reports, readers should contact MHC.
Users should keep in mind that these reports are now two decades or more old. The information they contain, including assessments of existing knowledge, planning recommendations, understanding of local development, and bibliographic references all date to the time they were
written. In some cases, information on certain topics was not completed. No attempt has been
made to update this information.
Electronic text was not available for digital capture, and as a result most of the reports have
been scanned as PDF files. While all have been processed with optical character recognition,
there will inevitably be some character recognition errors.
The activity that is the subject of the MHC Reconnaissance Survey Town Report has been financed in part with Federal funds from the National Park
Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. However, the contents and opinions do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Department of the
Interior. This program receives Federal financial assistance for identification and protection of historic properties. Under Title VI of the Civil Rights
Act of 1964, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, as amended, the U.S. Department of the Interior
prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, disability or age in its federally assisted programs. If you believe you have been
discriminated against in any program, activity or facility as described above, or if you desire further information please write to: Office of Equal Opportunity, National Park Service, 1849 C Street, N.W., Washington, D.C., 20240.
MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION
William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth
Chair, Massachusetts Historical Commission
220 Morrissey Blvd.
Boston, MA 02125
www.sec.state.ma.us/mhc
[email protected] / 617-727-8470
MHC RECONNAISSANCE SURVEY REPORT
Date:
I.
F e b r u a r y , 1980
COMMUNITY:
Norfolk
TOPOGRAPHY
L o c a t e d on r o l l i n g r i v e r i n e l o w l a n d s and a d j a c e n t u p l a n d s .
C o n s i d e r a b l e meadow/marsh a l o n g C h a r l e s . An i n c r e a s i n g l y i r r e g u l a r
t o p o g r a p h y t h r o u g h t h e s o u t h e r n and e a s t e r n p a r t s o f town. Some
r o c k y o u t c r o p s , many g l a c i a l outwash f e a t u r e s . A s a n d y t o
g r a v e l l y s o i l . Numerous u p l a n d ponds and s m a l l l a k e s a l l o f
which d r a i n i n t o C h a r l e s . Large a r e a s o f u p l a n d bog and c e d a r
swamp a s w e l l .
11.
POLITICAL BOUNDARIES
P a r t o f Dedham G r a n t , 1 6 3 6 . Fragment o f Dedham/Dorchester l i n e
i n t a c t a s s o u t h e a s t b o u n d a r y . P a r t o f Town o f Wrentham, 1673.
C a l l e d N o r t h Wrentham d u r i n g 1 8 t h C e n t u r y .
Incorporated as
Town o f N o r f o l k , 1870 from s e c t i o n s o f Wrentham and F r a n k l i n .
111.
HISTORIC OVERVIEW
R u r a l s u b u r b a n town on p e r i p h e r y o f m e t r o p o l i t a n B o s t o n . L o c a t e d
on u p p e r C h a r l e s R i v e r V a l l e y w i t h presumed n a t i v e s i t e s a l o n g
r e g i o n a l t r a i l s around wetlands. E a r l y a x i s of s e t t l e m e n t
from M e d f i e l d d u r i n g 1 7 t h C e n t u r y w i t h s e v e r a l m i l l s i t e s a f t e r
King P h i l i p s War. D i s p e r s e d a g r i c u l t u r a l development d u r i n g
C o l o n i a l p e r i o d w i t h some e a r l y 1 8 t h C e n t u r y h o u s e s o f l e a n - t o
plan.
F o r m a t i o n o f town c e n t e r by e a r l y 1 9 t h C e n t u r y w i t h o u t l y i n g v i l l a g e s a t C i t y Mills and P o n d v i l l e on Boston r a i l r o a d
c o n n e c t i o n s . E x p a n s i o n o f m a r k e t g a r d e n i n g and d a i r y i n g t h r o u g h '
e a r l y 20th Century w i t h r u r a l landscape p r e s e r v e d i n n o r t h e r n
p o r t i o n . L o c a t i o n o f f r i n g e i n s t i t u t i o n s on B o s t o n - P r o v i d e n c e
c o r r i d o r d u r i n g m i d - 2 0 t h C e n t u r y w h i l e town c e n t e r r e t a i n s
v i l l a g e s c a l e s u r r o u n d e d by i n c r e a s i n g s u b u r b a n development a l o n g
back r oad s .
IV.
CONTACT PERIOD (1500 -1620)
T r a n s p o r t a t i o n Routes:
L o c a t e d on u p p e r v a l l e y o f C h a r l e s R i v e r w i t h i n t e r s e c t i o n o f
several regional t r a i l s .
C o n j e c t u r e d r o u t e s i n c l u d e Wes t-DiamondS h e a r s S t s . from Walpole t o Wrentham a r o u n d S t o p R i v e r w i t h
b r a n c h t o M e d f i e l d a s Seekonk S t . and p o s s i b l e l o o p a r o u n d P h i l i p s
Pond a s Holbrook S t . O t h e r p r o b a b l e t r a i l s i n c l u d e Union-KingMain S t s . a r o u n d S t o n y Brook and M i l l R i v e r w i t h a p p a r e n t a l t e r n a t e
branch t o C h a r l e s River through Norfolk C t r . a s R t . 115. I t a l s o
seems l i k e l y t h a t a N o r t h / S o u t h t r a i l t h r o u g h P o n d v i l l e f o l l o w e d
the axis of Everett St.
A.
Settlement Pattern:
No documented p e r i o d s i t e s . S i t e s p r o b a b l e , however, on w e l l
d r a i n e d t e r r a c e s and k n o l l s o v e r l o o k i n g - C h a r l e s ( e s p e c i a l l y a r o u n d
B.
'
MHC Reconnaissance Survey Town Report: Norfolk
1
P o p u l a t i c Pond) and a d j a c e n t t o i n l a n d ponds a n d l a k e s .
Subsistence Pattern:
An a r e a w i t h d i v e r s e r e s o u r c e s . Anadramous f i s h r u n s i n
C h a r l e s ( P o p u l a t i c Pond a t t e r m i n u s ) , f r e s h w a t e r f i s h i n g i n
ponds and l a k e s . Good a g r i c u l t u r a l l a n d a v a i l a b l e . H u n t i n g /
g a t h e r i n g i n b o t h u p l a n d s and l o w l a n d s .
C.
Observations:
Though l i t t l e i s r e p o r t e d i n t h e a r e a , a p p e a r s t o b e a h i g h
p r o b a b i l i t y f o r s i t e s . P e r i o d s i t e s would b e o f p a r t i c u l a r i n t e r e s t
s i n c e a r e a i s on b o r d e r between Nipnuck ( f r e s h w a t e r , i n l a n d )
p e o p l e and c o a s t a l t r i b e s ( M a s s a c h u s e t t s t o e a s t , Wampanoags t o
s o u t h e a s t , and N a r r a g a n s e t t s t o s o u t h / s o u t h w e s t )
Information
from t h i s a r e a would h e l p c l a r i f y b r o a d e r q u e s t i o n s o f n a t i v e
s e t t l e m e n t a n d t e r r i t o r y w h i c h a r e now p o o r l y u n d e r s t o o d .
D.
.
FIRST SETTLEMENT PERIOD (1620-1675)
V.
T r a n s p o r t a t i o n Routes :
Native t r a i l s remain a s primary r o u t e s i n 1 7 t h Century w i t h
main highway from Walpole (Dedham) t o Wrentham a s West-DiamondS h e a r s S t s . w i t h Seekonk S t . t o M e d f i e l d .
A.
Population:
P e r h a p s s i x c o l o n i a l f a m i l i e s by e n d o f p e r i o d .
n a t i v e i n h a b i t a n t s may h a v e r e m a i n e d a s well-.
B.
A few
Settlement:
A f t e r 1 6 6 9 , s m a l l f a r m s i n two a r e a s - - C i t y Mills and w e s t o f
S t o n y Brook pond (Grove 6 Union S t s . ) .
C.
Economic B a s e :
S u b s i s t e n c e f'arming and s u r v i v a l .
t o meadow l a n d ( h a y and g r a z i n g ) .
D.
Area chosen f o r a c c e s s
Observations:
I n h a b i t a n t s were p a r t o f l a r g e r e f f o r t t o e s t a b l i s h s e t t l e m e n t
a t lWollomonopoagl (Wrentham) . A d i f f i c u l t t a s k d e s p i t e e n v i r o n m e n t a l a b u n d a n c e - - o n e o f t h e more remote s e c t i o n s o f t h e f r o n t i e r .
E.
VI
.
COLONIAL PERIOD (1675-1775)
T r a n s p o r t a t i o n Routes:
P r i m a r y r o u t e s r e m a i n i n p l a c e w i t h new highways i n l a t e 1 7 t h
C e n t u r y l i n k i n g t o C i t y Mills a s M y r t l e S t . (1684) t o Medway and
Boardman-Main S t s . from Walpole a r o u n d H i g h l a n d Lake. O t h e r
l i n k i n g r o a d s o f t h e p e r i o d i n c l u d e F r u i t S t . t o M e d f i e l d and
P a r k and Grove S t s . from C i t y M i l l s .
A.
Population:
Abandoned d u r i n g King P h i l i p ' s War. Slow r e c o v e r y by end o f
c e n t u r y . S t e a d y growth d u r i n g 1 8 t h C e n t u r y . A l l s p e c i f i c f i g u r e s
a r e i n c l u d e d w i t h Wrentham t o t a l s .
B.
MHC Reconnaissance Survey Town Report: Norfolk
2
Settlement:
A r e a e v a c u a t e d d u r i n g King P h i l i p ' s War. R e b u i l d i n g c o m p l e t e d
by end o f c e n t u r y . S c a t t e r e d farms t h r o u g h o u t town, e s p e c i a l l y
i n more t i l l a b l e n o r t h e r n s e c t i o n . S e v e r a l c l u s t e r s o f s e t t l e m e n t
emerged, u s u a l l y a r o u n d m i l l i n g a r e a s : C i t y M i l l s ( a f t e r 1 6 8 0 ) ,
Mann Pond/Highland Lake ( a f t e r 1 6 9 1 ) , P o n d v i l l e ( a f t e r 1 7 3 0 ) .
No v i l l a g e c e n t e r a s t h i s was p a r t o f Wrentham. N o r t h e r n p a r t
o f town h a d t i e s w i t h M e d f i e l d .
C.
Economic Base:
A g r i c u l t u r e and g r a z i n g ( c a t t l e ) . Orchards i n t h e P o n d v i l l e
a r e a . Considerable lumbering. M i l l i n g of products both f o r
l o c a l u s e and f o r e x p o r t : s a w m i l l on H i g h l a n d Lake 1 6 9 1 , g r i s t m i l l
a d d e d 1 6 9 3 ; g r i s t m i l l a t C i t y Mills 1 6 9 4 , s a w m i l l added l a t e r ;
s a w m i l l on S t o n y Brook (Union and Grove S t s . ) e a r l y 1 8 t h C e n t u r y ;
u n d a t e d s a w m i l l on S t o n y Brook Pond.
D.
E.
Architecture: residential:
L i t t l e h i g h - s t y l e l i k e l y t o have been b u i l t ; v e r n a c u l a r
b u i l d i n g a p p e a r s t o h a v e b e e n d i v i d e d n e a r l y e q u a l l y between
c e n t r a l chimney h o u s e s and c o t t a g e s ; a s m a l l body o f c e n t r a l chimney c o t t a g e s w i t h 3/4 f a c a d e s was a l s o b u i l t , most o f t h e s e
seem t o h a v e b e e n i n c o r p o r a t e d a s t h e r e a r - e l l s o f l a t e r ( F e d e r a l i s t )
h o u s e s , s e v e r a l a r e a s s o c i a t e d w i t h c o n s t r u c t i o n d a t e s o f c a . 17255 0 ; o t h e r c o t t a g e s a t t r i b u t e d d a t e s i n 1690 ( q u e s t i o n a b l e ) .
VII.
FEDERAL PERIOD (1775-1830)
T r a n s p o r t a t i o n Routes :
F o r m a t i o n o f town c e n t e r i n l a t e 1 8 t h c e n t u r y r e s u l t s i n
r a d i a l r o a d p a t t e r n from m e e t i n g h o u s e a s Medway, Union, N o r t h
and Main S t s . w i t h c r o s s l i n k t o P o n d v i l l e a s Pond S t . O t h e r
secondary l i n k s of t h e p e r i o d include M i l l e r S t . over M i l l
R i v e r and l o o p o f T u c k e r - C l e v e l a n d a r o u n d C r e s s Brook. Main
t u r n p i k e from Walpole t o Wrentham opened a s Dedham S t . by e a r l y
1 9 t h C e n t u r y ( R t . 1A).
A.
Population:
S m a l l i n c r e a s e s p r o b a b l y o c c u r r e d t h r o u g h o u t p e r i o d , no
s e p a r a t e s t a t i s t i c s a v a i l a b l e ; North P a r i s h (Congregational)
formed, c a . 1 7 9 5 - 9 6 .
B.
Settlement Location:
Along m a j o r r o a d s a t N o r f o l k C e n t e r , a t C i t y Mills ( p a s t c a .
1815) and a t A b b y v i l l e (Lawrence S t . a t Bush P o n d - - c a . 1 8 2 0 ? ) ;
s c a t t e r e d farmsteads.
C.
Economic B a s e :
C h i e f l y a g r i c u l t u r a l b e f o r e 1812. I n t h e f o l l o w i n g t h r e e y e a r s ,
t h r e e c o t t o n m a n u f a c t u r i n g companies--Wrentham Mfg. Co., 1812 a t
Bush Pond; F r a n k l i n Mfg. Co., 1813 a t C i t y M i l l s ; a n d S t o n y Brook
Mfg. Co., 1814 a t S t o n y Brook. U n i d e n t i f i e d f o u n d r y begun a t
H i g h l a n d Lake, p r o b a b l y i n t h i s p e r i o d on s i t e o f e a r l i e r saw and
grist mills.
D.
MHC Reconnaissance Survey Town Report: Norfolk
3
Architecture :
residential:
L i t t l e h i g h - s t y l e p r e s e n t , although highs t y l e l a t e Georgian and F e d e r a l i s t d e c o r a t i v e d e t a i l s e x i s t e d
o n ' h o u s e s a t orf folk C e n t e r and s c a t t e r e d f a r m s t e a d s . V a r i e d
h o u s e - t y p e s p r e s e n t w i t h no c l e a r dominance o f a s i n g l e t y p e ;
t h e most numerous examples a r e o f c e n t r a l chimney h o u s e s and
c o t t a g e s , i n a d d i t i o n some t w o - s t o r y t w i n - c h i m n e y and r e a r - w a l l
chimney h o u s e s were b u i l t .
i n s t i t u t i o n a l : Approximately 6 o r 7 sc h o o l d i s t r i c t s
p r e s e n t by 1 8 2 0 ' s ; m e e t i n g h o u s e b u i l t c a . 1 7 9 8 - 1 8 0 1 , F e d e r a l i s t
s t y l e ( G o t h i c t r i m p r o b a b l y added c a . 1 8 4 5 , a l t h o u g h may be
earlier) .
c o m m e r c i a l : T w o - s t o r y frame s t r u c t u r e w i t h h i p r o o f
(Norfolk C e n t e r - - c a . 1700, 1 8 2 0 ' s ) p o s s i b l e t a v e r n / s t o r e ;
o n e - s t o r y ( ? ) s t o n e s t o r e b u i l d i n g a t C i t y Mills ( c a . 1 8 1 5 ) ,
few o t h e r b u i l d i n g s l i k e l y .
i n d u s t r i a l : S m a l l - s c a l e c o t t o n m i l l s - -wood-frame
c o n s t r u c t i o n probable (post ca. 1812).
E.
VIII
.
EARLY INDUSTRIAL PERIOD (1830-1870)
T r a n s u o r t a t i o n Routes :
~ u r n ~ i k eand
s highways r e m a i n f r o m e a r l y 1 9 t h C e n t u r y .
N o r f o l k Co. r a i l r o a d opened from Boston t o Woonsocket (1849)
t h r o u g h N o r f o l k C t r . and C i t y M i l l s w i t h s h o r t - l i v e d b r a n c h t o
Medway (1853) now abandoned roadway a c r o s s Tucker Rd.
A.
Population:
S m a l l . l o c a l i z e d p o p u l a t i o n i n c r e a s e s p r o b a b l e ; no s e p a r a t e
s t a t i s t i c s a v a i l a b l e ; - c b n g r e g a t i o n a 1 church (North p a r i s h )
d i v i d e d and r e - u n i t e d d u r i n g p e r i o d ; B a p t i s t S o c i e t y formed 1 8 4 0 ' s ( ? ) .
B.
Settlement Locations:
P r i m a r i l y a t v i l l a g e o f p r e c e d i n g p e r i o d , l i t t l e new b u i l d i n g
i n o u t l y i n g a r e a s ; s m a l l v i l l a g e d e v e l o p e d a r o u n d S t o n e y Brook
F a c t o r y ( j u n c t i o n Seekonk and N o r t h S t r e e t s ) , c a . 1 8 4 5 - 5 5 .
C.
Economic B a s e :
George C a m p b e l l ' s p a p e r m i l l r e p l a c e d f o u n d r y a t H i g h l a n d
Lake p r o d u c i n g heavy w r a p p i n g and b u i l d i n g p a p e r s u n d e r d i f f e r e n t
owners i n t o 1 9 2 0 ' s . O u t s i d e c a p i t a l i n t h e 1 8 6 0 ' s from F r a n k l i n
a c q u i r e d S t o n y Brook a n d C i t y Mills p l a n t s , t h e f o r m e r c o n v e r t i n g
t o p r o d u c t i o n o f wool s h o d d y .
D.
E.
Architecture:
r e s i d e n t i a l : No h i g h - s t y l e e v i d e n t ; s i d e - h a l l c o t t a g e s
and a few d o u b l e c o t t a g e s (Greek R e v i v a l and I t a l i a n a t e s t y l e s )
were b u i l t i n t h e v i c i n i t y o f C i t y M i l l s (Main and P a r k S t s . ) , t h e
S t o n e y Brook F a c t o r y and a l o n g m a j o r r o a d s a t t h e o u t s k i r t s o f
Norfolk Center.
i n s t i t u t i o n a l : 6 o r 7 school d i s t r i c t s throughout period,
a t l e a s t one wood-frame Greek R e v i v a l s t y l e s c h o o l h o u s e and one
I t a l i a n a t e s t y l e s c h o o l h o u s e b u i l t ; wood-frame "Lock-up" b u i l t ,
MHC Reconnaissance Survey Town Report: Norfolk
4
c a . 1860-80. F e d e r a l i s t s t y l e meetinghouse o f 1801 remodelled
w i t h G o t h i c d e c o r a t i o n ( ? ) , c a . 1 8 4 0 - 4 5 ; Greek R e v i v a l s t y l e
m e e t i n g h o u s e b u i l t c a . 1840 ( B a p t i s t ? ) , I t a l i a n a t e s t y l e t r i m
added Ea. 1855.
commercial: One- and t w o - s t o r y wood-frame b u i l d i n g s w i t h
g a b l e d f a c a d e s p r o b a b l y b u i l t i n s m a l l numbers--none e v i d e n t
through secondary sources.
i n d u s t r i a l : Probably enlargement of e x i s t i n g f a c t o r i e s ;
no new m i l l s e x c e p t p a p e r m i l l a t H i g h l a n d Lake.
IX.
LATE INDUSTRIAL PERIOD (1870 -1915)
T r a n s p o r t a t i o n Routes :
Roads a n d r a i l r o a d s i n p l a c e from m i d - 1 9 t h C e n t u r y w i t h
a d d i t i o n o f p r i m a r y r a i l r o u t e from Walpole t o Wrentham t h r o u g h
P o n d v i l l e (1892) w i t h o r i g i n a l s t e e l b r i d g e s i n t a c t . No s t r e e t
railway r o u t e s through area.
A.
Population:
F l u c t u a t i o n i n 825-1,089 range throughout p e r i o d ; f o r e i g n b o r n p o p u l a t i o n i n c r e a s e d d u r i n g 1 8 9 0 ' s and e a r l y 2 0 t h C e n t u r y ;
I r i s h were l a r g e s t g r o u p u n t i l c a . 1 9 0 5 - 1 9 1 5 , a f t e r which P o l i s h
were l a r g e s t g r o u p ; a c t u a l p o p u l a t i o n o f a l l g r o u p s was s m a l l .
B.
Settlement Locations:
No i m p o r t a n t e x p a n s i o n o f s e t t l e d a r e a ; summer c a b i n c o l o n y
began t o b e d e v e l o p e d a t P o p u l a t i c Pond c a . 1 9 0 5 - 1 5 .
C.
Economic Base:
C i t y Mills f a c t o r y u n d e r Ray o w n e r s h i p p r o d u c e d f e l t b o o t
and s h o e l i n i n g s , a p r o d u c t i t would s t a y w i t h ( u n d e r American
F e l t a f t e r 1899) t h r o u g h t h e 1 9 2 0 ' s .
Though r e m a i n i n g i n
o p e r a t i o n , t h e o t h e r m i l l s a p p e a r a l l t o h a v e changed o w n e r s h i p
i n t h e 1870-80's period.
D.
Architecture:
r e s i d e n t i a l : no h i g h - s t y l e p r e s e n t f o r mid- and l a t e V i c t o r i a n s t y l e s ; i n d i v i d u a l e s t a t e q u a l i t y examples o f e a r l y T w e n t i e t h C e n t u r y e c l e c t i c d e s i g n b u i l t a t K i n g s b u r y Pond c a .
1 9 0 5 - 1 5 ( p r o b a b l y no more t h a n % dozen e x a m p l e s ) ; few t w o - s t o r e y
h o u s e s b u i l t , t h o s e t h a t were b u i l t were n e a r l y a s t y l i s t i c / l a t e
Queen Anne; s c a t t e r e d mid- and l a t e - V i c t o r i a n s i d e - h a l l c o t t a g e s ;
cabin/summer c o t t a g e s o f p r o b a b l e r u s t i c d e s i g n b u t f l i m s y
construction.
i n s t i t u t i o n a l : I t a l i a n a t e / V i c t o r i a n G o t h i c s t y l e town
h a l l b u i l t o r a d a p t e d from e x i s t i n g b u i l d i n g 1 8 8 0 - 8 1 ; 6 s c h o o l h o u s e s p r e s e n t i n 1 8 8 4 , r e d u c e d t o 2 by 1 9 0 9 ; h i g h s c h o o l b u i l t
c a . 1875-90 ( ? ) ; f i r e h o u s e b u i l t by 1 9 0 9 - s t o n e G o t h i c c h a p e l b u i l t
1909 ( o f f V a l l e y S t . ) .
commercial : " p l e a s u r e ground" development by r a i l r o a d
company o f H i g h l a n d Lake ( p r e - 1 8 8 4 ) ; 3 r a i l r o a d d e p o t s by 1876.
Commercial b u i l d i n g a t t h e town c e n t e r p r o b a b l y made u s e o f t h e
same b u i l d i n g t y p e s a s t h e p r e c e d i n g p e r i o d - - l i t t l e development
likely.
E.
MHC Reconnaissance Survey Town Report: Norfolk
5
industrial:
L i t t l e new b u i l d i n g l i k e l y ; some b r i c k
( I t a l i a n a t e and u t i l i t a r i a n ) c o n s t r u c t a t C i t y Mills ( c a . 1880 1915).
X.
EARLY MODERN PERIOD (1915-1940)
T r a n s p o r t a t i o n Routes:
T r a n s p o r t l i n e s i n p l a c e from e a r l y 2 0 t h C e n t u r y . Auto
highways r e b u i l t from e x i s t i n g r o a d s i n c l u d i n g main r o u t e
S o u t h w e s t from B o s t o n a s Route 1 A (Dedham S t . ) and l o c a l l i n k
from Foxborough t o M i l l i s t h r o u g h N o r f o l k C e n t e r a s Route 115
(North-Pond S t s .) i n 1 9 3 0 ' s . E a r l y c o n c r e t e b r i d g e s u r v i v e s on
Main S t . a t C i t y M i l l s .
A.
Population:
Rapid growth o f p o p u l a t i o n a f t e r 1925 a s a r e s u l t o f o p e n i n g
o f s t a t e p r i s o n and h o s p i t a l , a l t h o u g h i t i s u n c l e a r i f t h e
i n s t i t u t i o n s ' i n m a t e s were i n c l u d e d i n t h e N o r f o l k p o p u l a t i o n
o r w h e t h e r l o c a l p o p u l a t i o n i n c r e a s e s r e f l e c t e d a t t e n d a n t s and
o t h e r p e r s o n n e l who moved t o t h e town.
B.
Settlement Locations:
Major r e s i d e n t i a l d e v e l o p m e n t s e s t a b l i s h e d i n e a s t e r n s e c t i o n
o f town ( P o n d v i l l e and C l a r k S t . ) ; s c a t t e r e d new h o u s e s i n
e a s t e r n s e c t i o n o f town, p a r t i c u l a r l y a l o n g Seekonk and Main
Sts.
C.
Economic Base:
No new m a n u f a c t u r i n g i n d u s t r i e s , though a s i n Wrentham, a t
l e a s t one l a r g e p o u l t r y f a r m . C i t y M i l l s ( f e l t ) and Bush Pond
( r e w o r k e d wool) c o n t i n u e i n o p e r a t i o n t h r o u g h o u t p e r i o d .
D.
Architecture:
r e s i d e n t i a l : s m a l l amount o f e c l e c t i c h i g h s t y l e may
h a v e b e e n b u i l t n e a r K i n g s b u r y Pond; m a j o r i t y o f new c o n s t r u c t i o n
c o n s i s t e d o f modest bungalows; a s m a l l e r number o f modest
Dutch C o l o n i a l a n d C o l o n i a l R e v i v a l c o t t a g e s were b u i l t n e a r t h e
j u n c t i o n o f Seekonk and Main S t r e e t s ; c o n t i n u e d summer c o t t a g e
development .
i n s t i t u t i o n a l : l i b r a r y l o c a t e d i n a d a p t e d former
s c h o o l h o u s e ( ? ) ; p r i s o n complex o f b r i c k , c a s t - s t o n e a n d c o n c r e t e
b u i l d i n g s (some C o l o n i a l R e v i v a l s t y l e ) b u i l t 1 9 2 5 - 2 7 ; s e c o n d
p r i s o n complex b u i l t c a . 1935-40 ( ? ) s t r a d d l i n g Walpole town l i n e ,
c o n c r e t e and s t u c c o M o d e r n e / I n t e r n a t i o n a l s t y l e b u i l d i n g s ;
Cancer H o s p i t a l (P o n d v i l l e H o s p i t a l ) b u i l t c a . 1 9 1 5 - 2 5 ( ? ) , a l l
original buildings o f e c l e c t i c design, b u i l t of buff brick with
some c l a s s i c a l s t y l e d e c o r a t i v e t r i m , i n c l u d e s main h o s p i t a l and
houses.
c o m m e r c i a l : Some h i g h w a y - r e l a t e d o n e - s t o r e y development
a l o n g- ~ e d h a mS t .
i n d u s t r i a l : No new c o n s t r u c t i o n .
E.
XI.
SOURCES
Wells, Frederick
E a r l y N o r f o l k R e v i s i t e d (1970.
MHC Reconnaissance Survey Town Report: Norfolk
6